Originally Posted by Mwenenzi

Upgrades (free?) are an unrealistic hope for most frequent flyers. And less for infrequent flyers. Upgrades policies on USA and non USA airlines are vastly different. With non USA airlines expect to travel in the seat you purchase. Cross airline upgrades a magnitude harder. Star has cross airline upgrade scheme that requires a high priced base fare. So useless for most people. Oneworld have a trial going AA upgrade with AA ff miles on QF flights.

You have a multitude of ffp's. Looks like when you flew a new airline you joined the ffp. Airlines have frequent flyer partners. Be careful about expiry
Oneworld

• QR
• BA
• QF

QR & BA both use avios and are very close commercially. Can move avios between QR BA IB EI AY.
From a QR ff account can see/use BA avios (and the other way)
Better to concentrate on one Oneworld ffp and let the others die. However QF< --- > QR ff earning can low or even nil. So may be QF and QR. If could get status a little harder to pick a ffp, depending on airlines flown.

VA is partner of Qatar QR, UA and others. Are VA codeshares on some trans Tasman AirNZ flights (none from ZQN)

Lounge access come with mid-top level status or business class. But nowadays some low cost business fares do not get lounge access. Qatar QR are a leader in this depreciation of benefits.